1. A Holiday Card of a Different Sort? Or, “Real Simple Magazine Told Me to Do This And I Was All Like, ‘Sure, Why Not?’, So Here, Have a PowerPoint Presentation”

2. This year I’m NOT going to be at Chicago O’Hare for Christmas! It’s going to be amazing. This year I discovered Microsoft OneNote, mankind’s greatest invention of all time. In July, Mariela’s job became full-time with benefits. Thanks to super-cool friends, we got to go to Disneyland in October and meet Maleficent, who is of course the coolest Disney villain. As a Year, 2010 Is Surprisingly Good

3. We went to Minnesota in September to watch Mom be installed as president of the Minnesota Medical Association, where Mariela went fishing for the first time, I got to eat a meal home-cooked by Grandma Lindholm, and various grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, sisters, brothers, and other relation-type people came to hang out and party. I passed the auditions for another year of Concert Bells of Fort Worth. As a Year, 2010 Is Surprisingly Good

4. I survived my first simulcast show, even though it was full of puns and delicious cake. I translated Eden of the East, a show which tried to kill me through modern technology. Or did it try to save me through technology? Cell phones are evil, but I wish all shows were this well-made. I was able to keep providing continuing education in my field. As a Year, 2010 Is Surprisingly Good

5. Various old friends moved into or moved through the area, and I tricked them into hanging out with me. I gave up and admitted that I am having a torrid love affair with Central Market, which freed me to relax and enjoy overspending on bizarre gourmet teas and tasty Argentinean sandwiches. Mariela and I had a blissful Thanksgiving of warm muffins, hot chocolate, and Burn Notice. Other interesting stuff probably also happened. As a Year, 2010 Is Surprisingly Good

6. Sadly, even a good year has some bad to overcome, and it’s right to acknowledge it: Mariela’s grandma Marrero passed away this year, as did my grandpa Buster. Our apartment was burgled in August and many things were stolen. Insurance eventually reimbursed us much of the financial loss, but the intangible losses aren’t so easy. We Do Remember the Past

7. Still, the Past is Mostly for Celebrating Halloween Fireworks We Light Up the Sky

8. Still, the Past is Mostly for Celebrating Surprise Duck! Maleficent Scorns Us

9. Still, the Past is Mostly for Celebrating Everybody Loves Central Market Mom’s the Big Cheese Now

10. Still, the Past is Mostly for Celebrating And I Remain, As Always, Well-Behaved

11. We’re wishing you a glad December, and if you celebrate it... Merry Christmas FelizNavidad メリクリ God Jul May the rice pudding be with you. So Anyway, the Point Is